Cushioning product and method and apparatus for making same

Abstract

The invention relates to a crumpled paper tube for use as a cushion in packing items, and to a method and apparatus for producing the same.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cushioning product comprising: 
 an elongated paper tube, said elongated paper tube formed from a pair of elongated sheets of paper having confronting lateral side edges joined together to form said tube, which has been crumpled around a circumference thereof such that said crumpled paper tube has a resilience greater than that of said elongated paper tube in an uncrumpled state.    
     
     
         2 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said elongated paper tube is crumpled in a longitudinal direction.  
     
     
         3 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said elongated paper tube is crumpled in a radial direction.  
     
     
         4 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said elongated paper tube is crumpled in a longitudinal direction and in a radial direction.  
     
     
         5 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said confronting lateral side edges are adhesively joined together.  
     
     
         6 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said paper tube is a Kraft paper tube.  
     
     
         8 . A paper tube from which to produce a cushioning product, said paper tube comprising: 
 a pair of elongated sheets of paper having confronting lateral side edges;    said lateral side edges being joined together longitudinally to form said paper tube.    
     
     
         9 . The paper tube of  claim 8  wherein said lateral side edges are adhesively joined together.  
     
     
         10 . The paper tube of  claim 9  wherein an adhesive is positioned between the confronting lateral side edges.  
     
     
         11 . The paper tube of  claim 8  wherein said paper tube is wound into a roll.  
     
     
         12 . The paper tube of  claim 8  further including longitudinally spaced lines of separation facilitating separating said paper tube in two.  
     
     
         13 . The paper tube of  claim 12  wherein said longitudinally spaced lines of separation are perforations.  
     
     
         14 . The paper tube of  claim 8  wherein said paper tube is a Kraft paper tube.  
     
     
         15 . A method for producing a cushioning product comprising: 
 providing an elongated paper tube formed from a pair of elongated sheets of paper having confronting lateral side edges joined together to form said tube;    providing a core;    drawing the paper tube over the core; and    crumpling the paper tube around a circumference thereof.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the elongated paper tube is crumpled in a longitudinal direction.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the elongated paper tube is crumpled in a radial direction.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the elongated paper tube is crumpled in a longitudinal direction and in a radial direction.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the paper is drawn over the core by driving rollers.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the core includes idler rollers facilitating the paper tube being drawn over the core by the driving rollers.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the driving rollers include longitudinally spaced apart first and second sets of driving rollers.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first and second sets of driving rollers rotate at different angular velocities.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the first set of driving rollers rotates at an angular velocity greater than the angular velocity of the second set of rollers.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the second set of driving rollers is positioned downstream from the first set of driving rollers.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the second set of driving rollers is downstream of said first set of driving rollers, and each set of driving rollers includes at least two opposed rollers, and wherein the spacing between the surfaces of said opposed rollers of said second set of rollers is less than the spacing between the surfaces of said opposed rollers of said first set of rollers.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising separating the cushioning product in two by stopping the first set of driving rollers while continuing to drive the second set of driving rollers.